Pabna, Aug 07 (V7N) — Bangladeshi student Md. Malekul Salehin (Prottay), a Grade 10 student of Rajshahi Cadet College, has joined a rare scientific expedition to the North Pole aboard Russia's nuclear-powered icebreaker 50 Let Pobedy (50 Years of Victory).
According to a Rosatom press release issued on Thursday, Prottay is representing Bangladesh alongside outstanding students from 21 other countries under the international "Icebreaker of Knowledge" educational programme, supported by Russia's state nuclear corporation, Rosatom.
The 10-day expedition officially began at a ceremony in Murmansk. The vessel, commanded by Captain Ruslan Sasov, will sail across the Barents Sea to the geographic North Pole before continuing to the Franz Josef Land archipelago and returning to Murmansk.
Prottay earned his place after emerging as one of the winners of the seventh edition of the multi-stage Icebreaker of Knowledge competition. More than 5,000 students from 22 countries—including Bangladesh, India, China, Brazil, Kazakhstan, South Africa, Türkiye and Vietnam—took part in the contest.
Before departing, Prottay expressed his excitement, saying it was a dream come true to visit the Arctic and a great honour to represent Bangladesh on the international expedition.
In the press release, Rosatom Director General Alexey Likhachev described the Arctic as a place where some of the world's most innovative ideas emerge. He said the programme brings together talented young people who will help shape the future through science and technology while giving them first-hand exposure to Russia's unique fleet of nuclear-powered icebreakers.
During the voyage, participants will observe the operation of a nuclear-powered icebreaker, explore the Arctic environment, and learn about the role of nuclear technology in Arctic navigation. The programme also includes lectures by leading experts in nuclear science, marine science and technology, scientific experiments, workshops, career guidance sessions and other educational activities.
One of the expedition's symbolic highlights will see participants raise their national flags at the Geographic North Pole (90°N).
The programme also features Russian science fiction author Sergey Lukyanenko as a special guest. He will lead a collaborative creative writing workshop, and the students' jointly written science fiction story will be published after the expedition.
The Icebreaker of Knowledge initiative aims to identify and nurture talented young people worldwide while promoting science, technology and nuclear education among students aged 14 to 16. Over the previous six editions, the programme has taken more than 400 students from around the world on educational expeditions to the North Pole.
Russia is currently the only country operating a fleet of nuclear-powered icebreakers. Managed by Rosatom subsidiary FSUE Atomflot, the fleet consists of eight nuclear-powered vessels that support navigation along the Northern Sea Route, the shortest maritime corridor linking Western Eurasia with the Asia-Pacific region.
